Seventy PCs containing illegal copies of Microsoft Windows and Office have been confiscated from a major Kuwaiti trading company in a raid by the Ministry of Information.

Seventy PCs containing illegal copies of Microsoft Windows and Office have been confiscated from a major Kuwaiti trading company. The confiscations were part of a raid by the Ministry of Information in Kuwait City, as authorities there continue to crack down on software piracy.

The Ministry of Information raid was led by its Intellectual Property Department, that has been instrumental in fighting software piracy since its formation last year. A number of other raids have also been carried out in Kuwait this month. They follow an amnesty period, that begun with Ramadan, which aimed to encourage companies to licence their software, without fear of investigation by the authorities.

“We are never happy that anyone is raided,” commented the Business Software Alliance’s regional director, Jawad Al-Redha, “especially after the Great Opportunity campaign, where we put in so much effort to let people know that they had the chance to license their software fully, with no penalties and with the BSA’s help. Obviously, this company chose not to legalise its status, and now it is facing the consequences of its choice."

“The Ministry of Information’s action has been consistent, systematic and very well organised”, added Al-Redha. “They are really to be praised for their resolve to fight and eradicate illegal software. The Kuwaiti government is serious about developing its IT sector and creating a secure market where local entrepreneurs and international companies will feel confident to invest and develop their products.”